Towing and Impounds. Tow truck operators who impound vehicles are regulated by the Department of Licensing (DOL). Impoundment is defined as taking and holding a vehicle in legal custody without the consent of the owner, and may only be performed by registered tow truck operators (RTTOs). RTTOs may impound, transport, and store unauthorized vehicles and dispose of abandoned vehicles. There are two types of impounds:
Redemption of Towed Vehicles. Vehicles titled with DOL that are lawfully impounded by RTTOs may be redeemed by the following persons or entities:
To redeem a vehicle, a person or entity eligible to do so must pay the costs of towing, storage, or other services provided during the course of towing, removing, impounding, or storing the vehicle. Any person seeking to redeem an impounded vehicle has the right to a hearing to contest the validity of the impoundment or the amount of towing and storage charges. The RTTO must give each person seeking to redeem a vehicle written notice of their right to a hearing, accompanied by a form to be used for requesting a hearing, the name of the person or agency authorizing the impound, and a copy of the towing and storage invoice. Hearing requests must be received by the court within ten days of the date the RTTO provided written notice of the right to a hearing, and more than five days before the date of the auction.
At the conclusion of the impound hearing the court will determine whether the impoundment was proper, whether the towing or storage fees charged were in compliance with the posted rates, and who is responsible for payment of fees. If the court finds the impoundment to be proper, the court may not adjust fees or charges that are in compliance with the posted or contracted rates. If the court finds the impoundment to be improper, the vehicle owner does not have to pay the cost for impoundment, towing, or storage fees. Instead, the person or agency who authorized the impoundment is liable for these fees.
Fee Schedules. An RTTO must register a fee schedule with DOL. All filed fees must be adequate to cover the costs of service provided and no fees may exceed those filed with DOL. At least ten days before the effective date of any changes in the fee schedule, the RTTOs must file the revised fee schedule with DOL. The fees charged by Class A, Class D, or Class E tow trucks are subject to a cap. For private impounds, an RTTO may not file a fee schedule with an hourly rate that exceeds 135 percent of the maximum rate for a Class A tow truck as negotiated with the Washington State Patrol (WSP). The filed fee schedule may not have a storage rate exceeding 135 percent of the maximum daily storage rate as negotiated with WSP. A filed schedule's afterhours release fee may not exceed 100 percent of the maximum after-hours release fee as negotiated with WSP. These limits do not apply to other classes of tow trucks; private voluntary towing; towing a vehicle that is not parked or not upright, does not have all of its wheels or tires, or has a broken axle; or if the vehicle is being towed from a location at which it was involved in an accident.
Work Group Report. In the 2022 Supplemental Transportation Budget, the Legislature directed Washington State University (WSU) to convene a work group to examine the implications of the Washington Supreme Court's findings in City of Seattle v. Long, which emphasized the need for courts to assess the individuals ability to pay when determining whether the fines and fees are excessive, and make recommendations for amending provisions concerning the towing and impound of vehicle. WSU completed the report in December 2022, providing a number of recommendations, including allowing courts to authorize release of vehicle residences and to determine an individuals' ability to pay impound fines or fees during impound hearings.
Ownership in Doubt. If a person is unable to obtain satisfactory evidence of ownership or release of interest in a vehicle, they may apply for ownership in doubt and receive a three-year registration without title or a bonded title. Ownership in doubt does not apply to unauthorized vehicles, abandoned vehicles, snowmobiles, or Washington vehicle dealer sales.
Abandoned Recreational Vehicle Disposal Account. The applicant for a registration for a camper, motor home, or travel trailer must pay a $6 fee that is deposited into the Abandoned Recreational Vehicle Disposal Account (Account) that may be used by DOL to reimburse tow truck operators and licensed dismantlers for the cost for transport, dismantling, and disposal of abandoned recreational vehicles when the last registered owner is unknown.
A person authorized by a court after an impound hearing or other procedure may redeem a vehicle impounded by an RTTO. A court or administrative hearings officer may review additional information and evidence at a hearing if ownership of the vehicle or authorization from the legal or registered owner to use, reside in, or retrieve the vehicle is disputed. If a person is unable to present sufficient evidence to show they are an authorized person or entity, the court may, with good cause, set aside the hearing for up to 15 business days to allow the person the opportunity to file appropriate ownership paperwork with DOL or obtain written authorization from the legal or registered owner to redeem the vehicle. A court may grant additional time for extenuating circumstances or until the legal proceeding has ended when the person files for ownership in doubt.
The court may consider a late request for an impound hearing for good cause when the vehicle is used as a residence and the request is made more than five days before the date of the auction.
At the conclusion of the impound hearing, if the court finds that a vehicle is used as a residence, the court may consider the person's ability to pay the towing and storage fees and reduce the fees if the court finds the person to be indigent. DOL must pay the difference between the reduced fees and tow truck operator's actual costs for the towing and storage. The RTTO may apply to DOL for costs reimbursement to pay the difference between any reduced towing and storage fees and the tow operator's actual costs for towing and storage. DOL may only use funds authorized from the Account for costs reimbursement of a vehicle used as residence. DOL must seek reimbursement from the impounding authority for any cost reimbursement paid to a RTTO and deposit any repayment into the Account.
The Account is renamed to the Abandoned Recreational Vehicle Disposal and Indigent Impound Account.
The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. PRO: This is a complex solution to solve a simple problem. My concern is that if the RV account is used for the reimbursement the account may be depleted quickly. May consider an amendment to say that the impounding authority contribute to the RV account to keep it whole.
OTHER: We support these efforts to protect vehicle residence. It goes a long way to codify the City of Seattle v. Long decision but don't think the bill goes far enough because the decision made was not limited to people who live in their cars and calls for an excessive fines analysis for impound costs more generally. Other low-income people should also be included and allowed to get extensions hearings for good cause. The bill should also incorporate homestead protections for vehicle residences and exempt the vehicle from sale if someone lives in it.
Cannot support any role in the tower determining whether the vehicle is or is not a residence and think there should be an exemption from litigation under the homestead act if the tower complies with towing requirement. Jurisdictions have different rules regarding impounding of vehicles and we need assurance that the way business is done in different areas is the same and ask that you consider preemption language for this issue.
Urge you to include coverage for the difference of fees and fines by the courts that relate to private impounds as well as public impounds. Worked with DOL for 4 years on the RV program and we were conservative with what we asked for to pay for RVs. There is currently a surplus but this funding needs to remain available for the abandoned RVs. DOL or the local impounding authority should pay the difference and it needs to be tied to the jurisdiction that authorizes the tow.
PRO: The bill is a byproduct of dueling bills in the previous committee, and addresses who pays the difference when tow operator costs are reduced by the courts. The bill also keeps the abandoned RV disposal account whole through the new reimbursement, pass through process.
CON: The abandoned RV disposal account program is not only about removing vehicles from road but also involves dismantling and disposing of such vehicles. Account funds are being put at risk and are needed for all of the eligible uses and not for such new uses. Tow truck operators should collect reduced towing costs from the impoundment authority instead of DOL.
OTHER: There are administrative challenges for collecting reimbursement amounts from impounding authorities that are municipalities or law enforcement. The allowed new use could deplete the abandoned RV disposal account. The bill should introduce language to ensure the availability of funds, and delay the effective date until January 1, 2024. The bill addresses concerns of the tow truck industry. Abandoned RV disposal account funds should not be reduced as the bill addresses only lawful impounds not improper ones. The Seattle v. Long decision placed the tow truck industry in a state of uncertainty, and this bill is a step in the right direction, providing more certainty with how tow operators should do business. The account receiving reimbursements from impoundment authorities will help preserve funding and not thwart access for other account purposes.